About the Village

The Parish of Burton includes the village of Burton and the hamlets of Winkton, Bockhampton and Holfleet, all of which are separated by open farmland. The Parish Council was formed following the county boundary change in 1974, previously it was part of the Ringwood & Fordingbridge Rural District Council area.

The village of Burton lies approximately 2 km. to the north east of Christchurch along the historic and strategic route north between Christchurch and Ringwood. The earliest reference to the village comes from the twelfth century, but its name derives from Burhtun and is of the earlier Anglo Saxon period in origin. Older parts of the present village date back to the early eighteenth century.

Large scale development took place in the 1970s resulting in the population which today amounts to approximately 4200 persons.

The village lies between the River Avon Flood Plain to the west and the open landscape of the River Terrace to the east on relatively low lying ground with a small stream flowing through the northern part of the housing area.